CORRESPONDENCE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3798, 17 September 1883, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

1 ' SABBATH OBSERVANCE

[To the Editor of the Daily Telegraph.] Sin,—Ou my return to Napier this morning my attention was drawn to a letter that appeared in your issue of Friday evening signed " Sea Port Town" supposed to be a reply to my former communication. I must candidly confess that the letter of "Sea Port Town " is not deserving of the sigh test notice, there being really nothing in'ifc : but, lest my silence should bo misunderstood, I must crave your indulgence to say a few words respecting it for the benefit of your readers generally and ot "Sea Port Town " in particular. 1 can afford to pass by the vast and very superior advantage that " Sea Port Town " possesses over myself in l"'s extaide- "colonial experience." Experience at a busy centre like tho Spit is not tho good fortune ot every man, but because your correspondent has been favored of the Fates in having his lot cast in tho only place in the world (Scotland included) where "experience ' is to be gained, he should not be too rough on ln's benighted fellow man whoso knowledge of lighters and extensive docks, and of men and things generally, is dwarfed in consequence of his never having even heard of so wonderful an Academy of Experience as tl le Spit until that morning ten years ago when it burst in all it splendor on his astonished gaze. Ah, me! what opportunities and advantages some men have over others. But, seriously, what has "colonial experience " to do with the question under discussion ? I give it up. Your correspondent asks several questions which I shall endeavor to answer as briefly as possible. AVith respect to the number of times the Union Company's steamers call at this roadstead during the year on Sundays I still adhere to mv former statement, and shall continue to do so until I am convinced by proof to the contrary. I repeat that the Sunday service is only occasional. In reply to another question, I am sorry to have to rejoin that I am vol aware that a good few of'the people "employed about these Sunday boats " are proof against the temptation of a day of idleness. 1 hold further that recreation on one day in the week is a necessity, and that no one is Ijomhl to work on the Sunday except ho chooses. AVhat matters it, moreover, to tho lightermen, or the crew of the Boojum, or the checkers, whether they rest on Saturday or on Sunday, if they rest on Saturday when other people aro at work surely they ought not to grumble because the next day that order of things is reversed. The remaining questions'ill "Sea Port Town's " letter arc even more childish than those I have condescended to notice, and I dismiss him with tho advice that he should extend his already large " colonial experience " by a trip to Blackhead or the Mahia. —I am, ko., No TUKITAN. Napier, September 17, 1883.